Nunn tops the podium as she claims her first European Senior Cup medal at Malaga European Cup

European Cadet Championship bronze medallist Chloe Nunn (-70kg) won her first Senior European Cup medal after topping the podium and winning gold at the Malaga European Cup this weekend.

Nunn has had a tough past two years, after an elbow injury which resulted in her requiring reconstructive surgery, Nunn returned to competition in May, just three months after giving birth in February, where she won the London Senior Open. Last month she won gold at the Commonwealth Junior Judo Championships in Walsall prior to competing in Malaga.

Nunn defeated Iris Paulo (POR) and Audrey Fels (FRA) to win her Pool and progress to the semi-finals, where Nunn then defeated Ekaterina Lialina (RUS) to set up a final against Ksenia Zadvornova (RUS). In the final Nunn defeated the Akatu Asian Open gold medallist, Zadvornova, with a little over 60seconds left, by ippon score, to claim her first Senior European Cup title.

Emma Reid (-78kg) made a welcome return to competition following injury, which required surgery, in claiming silver. Reid won her Pool after defeating Ines Antolinez Pernandez (ESP) and Yahima Ramirez (POR). Reid defeated Mathilde Gil (FRA) in the semi-final to progress to the final to face Svetlana Voronina (RUS). Reid was unfortunately defeated by Voronina, a multiple Junior and Senior Continental Cup medallist, in the final, meaning she had to settle for silver, matching her previous best results at European Cup level from Sarajevo and Sofia earlier this year.

The 2016 European Junior Championship silver medallist, Neil Macdonald (-66kg), won bronze after progressing through a tough Repechage where he faced Luigi Brudetti (ITA), Rodrigo Lopes (POR) and Souifan Hamadaoui (MAR) just to make to bronze medal match where he faced Luca Caggiano (ITA). The Italian ammased three Shido’s in the match meaning he was disqualified and Macdonald won his first Senior European Cup medal.

Elsewhere, Alexander Short (-66kg) finished 5^th, backing up his recent 7^th place finish at the Luxembourg European Open and 2017 European U23 Championship bronze medallist Daniel Powell (-73kg) continued his return from a 12-month injury layoff with a 7^th placed finish.